Aletha Kaohi was engrossed in watching the high protocol unfold Saturday as the statue of King Kaumuali‘i was unveiled and dedicated at Pa‘ula‘ula, more commonly known as Russian Fort (Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park).
Aletha Kawelukawahinehololio‘olimaloa Goodwin Kaohi is a lifetime resident of Waimea whose ancestry can be traced back to Kaumuali‘i, sixth generation, and her knowledge of the Hawaiian culture has been passed down to her by her father, William Kapahukanilono‘okainoahou Goodwin, who was trained by Kaohi’s grandmother Kekuakepaleiliahikaowakaikalani, na kupuna selecting Aletha to be their spokesperson.
Following a year with her father, she received his knowledge, ‘ike, attributes, kapu secrets, and mana‘o to earn the keeper of their Hawaiian culture approval.
Kaohi watched with interest as the four-part ceremony, that included the purification of the site and activation of the elements that bring the statue to life, opened the nearly-day-long ceremony unveiling and dedicating the statue of Kaumuali‘i, or Ho‘ola‘a O King Kaumuali‘i, the presentation of the Royal Court, during Aloali‘i, and the Homecoming Reception, or Ka Moi Kaumuali‘i, when the representatives, limited to just one from each organization because of the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, provided ho‘okupu to the statue that was draped with a specially-made, 30-foot maile strand from Koke‘e on its unveiling by Friends of King Kaumuali‘i board members led by Keao Nesmith, who accompanied the 8-foot statue back to Kaua‘i from Los Angeles.
The return marks nearly 200 years since Kaumuali‘i was kidnapped aboard the Ha‘aheo Hawai‘i in July of 1821, during a reception aboard the ship. He was taken to Honolulu and was able to visit Kaua‘i just once before his passing in 1824.
“This event marks the permanent return of our ali‘i, whose peaceful and sustainable vision for his people and island will once again inspire us from his ancestral home at Pa‘ula‘ula,” states a newsletter from the Friends of King Kaumuali‘i.
Mayor Derek Kawakami rendered the account of Kamehameha’s attempts at conquering Kaua‘i that led to the rise of Fort Elizabeth. The contemporary re-living of the unsuccessful attempts will be part of the virtual dedication scheduled to air March 31 starting at 5 p.m.
Registration will be available shortly by logging in to kauaikingkaumualii.org.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
